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Anyone know anything about roof framing sitting on wood?

3K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  aj123 
#1 ·
I am considering buying a 300 year old house. We had a structural engineer out to look at some things. In the attic he noticed that the rafters were held up on one side by long pieces of wood, and below that was small pieces of wood holding it above the wall framing. It seems like none of it is nailed down or attached because all of these pieces of wood holding up the rafters were moveable.

Anyone know why this would have been done? We have some circumstantial evidence it may have been that way since the 1960s.

Anyone know how big of a concern this is?

Anyone know what type of contractor I could get out to investigate this?

Thanks
 
#2 ·
Without a pictute how would anyone know what it is?
You had an on site engineer and he did not know what it was?
What kind of engineer was he?
He does not drive trains does he?
 
#5 ·
After you post some pictures, perhaps someone can assist you in understanding the framing. In a 300 year old house, which has undoubtedly been repaired numerous times, it may be difficult or impossible to understand "why" unusual framing is the way it is. I have seen numerous bizarre framing, wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems installed. Often the "reason" is that the installer was utterly clueless due to lack of training, or they had developed their own unusual methods through years of "experience".

Regardless of the reason for the specific installation, you presumably paid your engineer to prepare a report on the condition of the house, and recommend needed repairs. Or was the engineer a friend who did the inspection at no cost? Assuming you had a contract with the engineer, you may want to review the contract to see if they owed you recommendations for needed repairs. If not, you may want to either write him another contract to recommend repairs, or hire another engineer to do so.
 
#7 ·
The real problem is you can't really see whats going on underneath because there are floor boards and blown in insulation. The engineer said they would have to do some demolition to find out what's really going on underneath, and I don't think the owner will agree to that. I was just hoping someone online had seen something similar.

I will post pictures tomorrow if I can.
 
#8 ·
#10 ·
Never understood how those old cut nails could hold so good.
On a taper like that you would think they would just pull right out, not.
I've seen them used in trim with no splitting, how can a wedge not split the wood?
 
#11 ·
The old homes didn't depend on the old iron nails for holding power. The old homes were build where the framing members actually held the house together. For example, the ceiling joists ran from front wall to back wall and were notched out to fit snugly over the top plate or beam. This would hold the walls out, and also keep them from spreading.

Back then the rafters set right on top of the ceiling joists, the ceiling joist ran out past the top plate/beam and formed the bottom part of the cornice, the fascia nailed right on the ends of the ceiling joists.

If there were places that needed holding power the pieces were mortise and tenon with a wooden dowel or peg drove through to hold.

Joe was that a king post?
 
#15 ·
Do you guys see pictures from the OP? What are you talking about? We called an L made of 2 x a strong back. A Hogs trough? Just goes to show you. Do y'all keep hogs in the attic? :thumbup: Good way to continually increase your insulation, I guess.

Joe, I dont think they are cut nails that old. Probably hand forged nails like in Williamsburg.
 
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